Job Description
Westat is an employee-owned corporation providing research services to agencies of the U.S. Government, as well as businesses, foundations, and state and local governments. Westat’s research, technical, and administrative staff of more than 2,000 is located at our headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, near Washington, DC.
Westat is committed to building a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity, belonging and equity for all. We believe that our greatest strength draws on the different backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and experiences of our employees.
Westat is seeking an education project specialist for a U.S. Department of Education funded technical assistance center. We serve the state education agencies in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas to improve outcomes for all students. We also work with thought leaders from a variety of backgrounds who provide cutting-edge expertise to our clients. With a collaborative culture and strategic and tactical skills, we are committed to our clients’ success.
We are seeking a project specialist to provide coordination and implementation support for government contracts managed by Westat’s Education Studies Practice. The successful candidate will have options to work on other projects of interest at Westat as their career progresses. This is a great opportunity to work with clients at federal, state, and local levels.
Successful candidates will bring diverse perspectives and varied experiences (whether from school, life, or past jobs). We value curiosity, innovation, and systems-level thinking to contribute to projects that drive improved outcomes for our clients and internally as well. We are passionate about inclusiveness, diversity, and cultural competency in the work we do within our team and in services for our clients.
Job Responsibilities:
Prepares, edits, and modifies documents including agendas, handouts, slides, memorandums, surveys, reports, and social media posts.
Coordination and interactions with project teams, colleagues, and clients.
Provide research support for project and client needs.
Support meeting facilitation needs at client events both virtually and in person.
Provide technical support for training and communications efforts such as WebEx, Zoom, Teams and other web conferencing services.
Familiarity with other tools like Survey Monkey, and Typeform is a plus.
Basic Qualifications:
Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of experience in an education related field or business.
Experience in working with English Learners and developing curricula to support learners from diverse backgrounds.
Experience in topics such as K-12 education, postsecondary education/training, rural education, educational equity, technical assistance/capacity-building services, and education research and/or program evaluation.
Familiarity with the evidence base for effective practices, programs, and interventions in K-12 education.
Preferred Qualifications:
Ability to carry out appropriate mixed methods research methodologies including facilitating focus groups, conducting interviews, conducting literature reviews, and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data.
Experience as an educator or administrator in public school settings or experience in education at the state or Federal level.
Westat offers a well-rounded and comprehensive benefits program focused on wellness and work/life balance. Eligible employees may participate in:
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Parental Leave
Vacation Leave
Sick Leave
Holiday Leave
Professional Development
Health Advocate
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Accident Insurance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Short Term Disability Insurance
Long Term Disability Insurance
Life and AD&D Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Health Savings Account